Climbing & discovering adventures

At 6194m (20 320ft), Mt McKinley (called Denali by the locals), is the highest mountain in North America. Denali is located close to the Arctic Circle in the remote wilderness of Alaska. It is the most difficult mountain that I have climbed so far, but also the nicest one.

Alaska is beautiful, but snow and ice are not my best friends! I was clumsy and off-balance in the beginning and thought only of my mental survival; but thanks to the guides from Mountain Trip (USA), I was eventually able to find my feet and rhythm.

On the 24 th May 2009, we flew in with a light airplane from Talkeetna and landed on the Kahiltna Glacier. From Base camp you are roped together with the rest of the group. You have to carry your own pack and drag a sled with group gear up the icy slopes. I have had no previous experience with ropes or sleds before and it took me 10 days to find my balance wearing snow-shoes. In windy, icy weather and snowstorms we had to put up our tents and build snow-walls against the wind.

But I was bowled over by the beauty of the place, I liked the pace, the company and the challenge. Denali was definitely about physical and mental endurance. From the beginning it was never about the summit; it was all about the experience!

I have learned so much through this journey and I have come to realise that I climb mountains because I enjoy it! Summiting is just the bonus on TOP!

Planned climbs:
Mt Everest: March/May 2010 OR Mt Blanc, Alps, France: June/July 2010

I climbed the most difficult mountain for me to date, Aconcague in the Andes in December 2007. What a challenge! Definitely a mountain one has to train physically and mentally for. South America was a great experience and I loved the laid back atmosphere of Mendoza , the city at the foot of the Andes range.

And to think that I haven't heard about this mountain before I climbed Mt Elbrus in September! I was very lucky to a get a space to go, a month before the expedition departed. It is important to plan well and prepare yourself before you climb this mountain. I did not and paid the price. I forgot some equipment and clothing at home, and subsequently had to hire the forgotten items. I was not mentally really and too stressed before I went. I became quite afraid when I realised that this was going to be a challenge and a half.

We started from Puente del Inca and walked to the first camp, Confluencia (3350m). It was a nice relaxed walk, but only for the first day. From there we walked for acclimatisation purposes to Plaza Francia (4100m), to view the magnificent South Face of the mountain. And what a view it was! Here, reality dawned on me – this was not a mountain to be taken lightly. From camp one we trekked for 17km along a valley base camp, Plaza de Mulas (4200m).

I learned very quickly that there is one right way and a lot of wrong ways to do this mountain! You have to respect this mountain and enjoy the experience, rather than storming upwards.

At base camp we started to experience the altitude for the first time and my fellow climbers complained about slight headaches. I got a running tummy for the first time in my climbing life! We saw people with frost bite and mountain sickness coming down from the summit. The season was still young and nobody had summitted yet when we arrived at base camp. Our group was still feeling strong. I used half a Diamox for the first two days, just for acclimatisation purposes and then I stopped. I also experienced a slight headache, but aspirin took care of that.

From base camp onwards, we had to carry our own backpacks. We took tents and equipment up to camp 1, Plaza Canada (5050m) and descended again to base camp. After a day of rest, we finally started our trek to the summit! This was my moment of truth, when I realised that the weight was not going to hold me back, as heavy as it was. I had not trained with a backpack on my back and that was evidently a big mistake, and I was quite relieved when I realised that I could do it. Onwards we trekked to camp 2, Nido de Condores (5550m).

As we went higher, the mountain changed and we could see more of what was awaiting us. Here, the strong winds held us captive in our tents for a whole day. We started to watch the winds and the cloud formations on the horizon more carefully. If the weather did not get better within a day, we would not be able to try for the summit. The winds are the most influential factor to be reckoned with as they blow away your dreams of summit if they are too strong…

The way up to camp 3, Berlin , Colera was accompanied by perfect weather. At 5970m above sea level, I realised that this is the highest I've ever been! The climate remained pleasant, cold and dry, with very little wind, as we started out for the for the summit on 16 December. By then, our group had shrunk from 13 to only 8 climbers. We had been warned about the Canaleta, the last steep stretch before you reach the summit, but no amount of warning could have prepared us for that challenge! All I could and can say is stay positive, stay with the front guide, walk in his steps… Just keep going, even very slowly, but if your legs and mind don't want to go there, don't even try! It was t.o.r.t.u.r.e. My legs and mind were fine, but at 5 steps a breath, I ran out of breath!

Of course, all the hardship made the summiting even more precious. Taking photos along the way up didn't even cross my mind and I was too tired for that on the way down. I am quite sad that I didn't capture the 5 of us summiting at 6960m, as it was incredibly special.

Descending was just as hard, as it started to snow. Nonetheless, walking down Aconcague in the snow was breathtaking. I loved it so much, that even if I never get the chance to climb Mt Everest, those moments on Aconcague would make up for it. It was simply awesome and really worth the hard work. We reached the camp at around 20:00 that evening and left at 06:00 the following morning. No blisters going up, but a few going down.

That morning, I had the best cup of soup I'd ever tasted – thanks to Sean and the welcoming party, you were great!

Aconcague: a mountain worth climbing to conquer your own fears. I would love to try climbing it from a different side / angle! I must admit though, when I woke up the next morning, the first thought on my mind was… Everest! I have to at least give it a try!

Next planned climbs: August / September 2008 – Mount Blanc (Europe)

In year 2005, I decided to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the African continent. All I knew about this mountain of greatness before I embarked on the adventure is that it was the roof of Africa and it was in Tanzania. What I got to find out later is that this was the world's highest freestanding mountain (19710ft / 5895m high) and it was one of the world's largest volcanoes!!!

When the idea came up I was quite eager to climb the mountain, but once the initial excitement had passed I forgot all about it. This was until my friend said "Let's climb Kilimanjaro, there's space in a group for September". I was shocked. This was very sudden and we only had 8 weeks to prepare. Since I am a gym instructor, I figured that I was fit enough for the challenge. I did, however, focus on my breathing exercises, believing that it will help to avoid the high altitude sickness.

Wild Frontiers planned the trek. I was satisfied with all the arrangements and did not worry as everything went according to plan.

Then there was a calamity. With 4 weeks to go, my knees gave in. I was in agony from the pain. My knees locked and exercising was impossible. The doctor said it was wear and tear, arthritis and that I needed to undergo an operation. The gist of it was: stop all exercises and get a new career.

This placed me at a serious crossroad in my life. In reality, what the doctor said made complete sense. But was I to just to give up? I just knew that there was more to the situation than what met the eye.

After some soul searching, it hit me. I was afraid! I was 42 years old, with 2 children, living my life without challenges and I had not climbed a mountain in years. I realized that I could fail at something for the first time in my life and that I certainly feared. I had an excellent, medically diagnosed excuse NOT to go on with my mad plan. For the first time in my life I understood the influence of fear on my body, but decided to beat it.

So, I did climb Kilimanjaro in the beginning of September 2005, Machame route. And every step I took, I grew stronger and stronger. We passed through different climate zones, from rain forests to moon landscape and as we moved upwards, I began to feel more alive than ever before.

Summit night was very cold, at below -17C with raging winds. To say it was a challenge to keep going would be an understatement of note. But it wasn't about reaching the Uhuru Peak, no. It was about conquering the fear! And yes, I did overcome the fear and I loved every minute of it.

Kilimanjaro is an amazing mountain, big enough to have it's own pattern. I was astonished by the size of the glaciers at the top. Kilimanjaro is truly a mountain of greatness and encountering it face to face it made me realize that I wanted more. I wanted more challenges, more discoveries, more climbing.

This was the start of life itself for me. So. what was going to be next?

In April 2006 I got the chance to trek in the Himalayas. Estelle, from gym, told me about a group of people from Summit Ventures, going up to the base camp of Everest and that I could join the group. I didn't know much about the area, but this got me to start reading whatever I could get my hands onto.

The trek in the Himalayas was a special experience. Our flight to Nepal was delayed and we bypassed to Delhi before we could reach Katmandu, 2 days later than expected. The next morning I caught my first sight of the Himalayas from a small airplane, praying for mercy, before we landed on the small strip at Lukla. Trekking from Lukla to the base camp of Everest, you are walking amongst the highest peaks in the world. What an awesome place to view this spectacle.

For me, the warmth and friendliness we experienced in Namche bazaar was one of the highlights. To wake up amongst those great mountains was a dream come true. Nothing was ever the same again. It snowed all the way up to Tengboche and this was a walk in a fairyland of beauty and innocence.

I could not really feel the difference in the altitude as we were going higher up in the mountains, but I did start to feel a little out of breath close to Chhukung. During our side trip to Island Peak (Imja Tse, 6160m) I felt I was running out of breath as the walking pace increased. When this trip went well the views on the frozen lake was out of this world and I was looking forward to climbing Kala Pattar!

Island Peak is right at the “back” of Nuptse and Lhotse, close to the summit of Mt Everest. It was at this spot that I started to wonder about climbing a mountain in this area. But which one? All I did know is that you need a permit and a lot of money to do this…

In the afternoon we climbed Kala Pattar, the “Little Muffin” of 5556m in front of the majestic Pumo Ri Peak. This small peak offers the best view on Mt Everest. And what a view it was! For the first time I really LOOKED at the summit and its magnetic field was so strong that I couldn’t look away again… What was it about this mountain? It was mysterious, dramatic, beautiful and situated at the top of the world. All that was overwhelming…

I heard the call and heart answered “YES!!!”. At Everest Base Camp (5300m) my eyes were fixed on the base of the West Cmw glacier, the starting point for all those who are aiming for the summit of the mountain. It was the first time to turn back.

The saddest part about the mountain climb is the fact that you have to leave and climb down again… It is only the love of my husband and my 2 children that let me leave the mountain, that and the wish that I may have another chance to come back, one day.
A part of my heart will always stay behind.

In our trek downwards past the gravestones at Tukla in memory of victims of accidents at Everest, one cannot escape realizing the power of the mountain. That power is so great that I will do anything to take up the challenge again, anything to get to know that mountain from close up, right at the top. I know that I have to try! And I’m going to.